By Matt Gade

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — A season ago, St. Thomas More’s Gabrielle Nelson qualified for the state tournament in just her first season of competition.

While the Cavalier went 1-2 and was eliminated from placing, this year the sophomore from Rapid City has seen her hard work in the off-season and throughout the regular season pay off, winning the Region 4 girls’ 115-pound weight class this past Friday at Rapid City Central.

In her third face-off with Custer’s Savannah Bell, Nelson met the Wildcat in the championship match and secured her first win over Bell, winning a 9-6 decision.

“It feels really good to know my hard work is paying off,” Nelson said.

Earlier this season, Bell defeated Nelson 7-3 at the Spearfish Girls Wrestling Tournament and again 6-3 at the Mid-Dakota Bride of the Monster.

“We've competed before, but when we step on the line, it's 0-0, you know, so it could go either way,” Nelson said. “You determine your performance and how well you're gonna push yourself.”

With the win on Friday, Nelson (34-6) secured the No. 5 seed at the SDHSAA girls wrestling tournament starting this Thursday at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls.

Nelson will meet the 12-seed Sydney Johnson of Bon Homme/Avon/Scotland in the first round.

Despite her loss to Nelson, Bell (36-3) secured the No. 1 seed at the state tournament.

Given their seedings, Nelson and Bell could potentially meet up in the semifinals on Friday if they both win their first two matches.

“Hopefully, I keep the intensity up and push through to the end and not give up anything,” Nelson said of the upcoming state tournament. “I have to take good recovery time, but also push the pace. Don't take anything for granted, but value my recovery time.”

Nelson said she’s excited to represent St. Thomas More at the state wrestling tournament as one of only three girls on the team.

“I'm so happy to get to represent STM and get our names out there and hopefully bring some attention to girls' wrestling, especially at STM,” Nelson said. 

Despite being only a sophomore, Nelson thinks her work in the wrestling room is paying off and with her win at regions, feels she has a shot at gold.

“I've only been wrestling, this is my second year, so I don't really think it's how old you are, but the work you put into it,” she said.